First off, this email is a once off to Metalheads who might want to hear about MFTB - mostly friends of Gareth. Don't worry i wont be sending more unsolicited mail to you. There were a lot of bands but i'll try keep it short.

This review is dedicated to the metal chicks of Australia who were out in force in Canberra and all looked gorgeous, including Venessa from Torquay (Vic), Mer (Irish) from Sydney and Carli from Melbourne and others, who I either chatted up, flirted with or was merely pressed up against in the mosh of various bands.

Metal For The Brain MMV

24 bands, 3 stages, 1 long day.

I arrived around 1.30 to blastbeats from 'Walk the Earth'. Since i hadn't heard proper blastbeats in a while I got close to the front and took in the atmosphere of the already large crowd. Unfortunately this band suffered from a Phil Anselmo-style singer, who after the fast songs was unenteraining. The musicians, also, after the one fast song could not keep my attention. So i wandered to the JJJ stage and was pleasantly surprised by:

'The Deadly' with a male and a female singer who both delivered hard and mellow vocals with ease. Very melodic musically with classy guitar work. A band to look our for.

Next on the twin-main stage were 'The Day Everything Became Nothing' who took most of their inspiration from Blood Duster. Impressive musically but closely watching the singer made you realise his early- Carcass-like growl was from an effect on the mic. Wandered back to the small stage to see:

'Log' who looked terrible all wearing masks of the face of an old man. 7 members, one of who was wearing a yellow dress and waved a tennis raquet around like he was playing guitar. In the words of one youthful member of the crowd: "7 in the band, and all 8 played bass". And thats what they sounded like!

'Alarum' on the twin stage were full of promise but only partly lived up to it. They had early tech problems and you couldnt hear the bass all through the set. Worth watching but their 4-piece thrash inspired music wasnt amazingly exciting.

'Mindsnare' on the small stage played their Hardcore set with passion to a loyal fan base. I didnt stay long however as it's just not my thing. If i had the chance to see them away from a METAL festival i would be down the front, but not today.

One band I needed to see were 'Gospel of the Horns', playing traditional harsh thrash in the European 80's sense that got the first true mosh pit of the day going. I was even surprised at how many women were in the mosh, and not 16-year olds seeing if they liked it but women who've obviously been into the scene for a while and know good music when they hear it. A great crowd pleasing set.

Avoiding the boring 'The Stockholm Syndrome' I stayed in the main area for 'Fort' who were great rock musicians with all the right hooks and catchy choruses. Unfortunately they were just wrong for this event, and would be better off supporting Jet or The Darkness to a different crowd. I retreated to the bar for the first of many beverages and avoided conversations with already pissed blokes eager to tell me how much Fort sucked.

'Vanishing Point' up next, and boy did they impress, with their blend of power metal that has already taken off in Europe and sees them playing to big crowds over there, apparently. They were technically brilliant in their playing and the singer has a great range within his falsetto voice. Many comparisons came to mind, including Children of Bodom, Hammerfall and Nightwish. I liked it! I just hope they retain enough originality to keep the masses happy.

Vanishing closed their set to great applause and the crowd immediately drifted off outside, with the result that 'Portal' started their set 1 minute after Vanishing finished, to a vanishing crowd. It built back up slowly, but Portal played to a smaller crowd than others. They play non-descript death metal that is not too technical but is loud and compelling. Just like their show at 2003's smaller Bloodlust festival, their wore their all black stage costumes with the guitarists wearing full-face white expressionless masks, the drummer all but hidden and the singer's head encased in a witches hat that takes the life away from the band. It may be the idea. I couldn't help calling out "Griffindor" at the singer once in between songs. Harsh, i know.

Next, 'Sakkuth' who play good tight Death metal, with a few nice solos. All very nice but i've seen that so much over the years that style doesnt move me anymore.

No matter how often I see 'Dungeon', however, i still love their gigs. New bass and drummer, but well rehearsed and capable. Set list:

Resurrection,1 Step beyond, Insanitys Fall, The Art of War, Electric Eye (cover, duh), Drum solo (crowd request), Bass Solo (also), (new song i dont recognise), finishing with 'I am Death'

Funny moment: a guy with a poster that said "Lord Tim is my father". As usual, great performance.

The 'Psycroptic' singers' first words were 'We are Psycroptic, and we're going to play you some slow Doom'. Haha as if. Their set, taken mostly from 'Scepter of the Ancients', was as to be expected: clinical and technical death metal with dozens of different time changes and riffs, but executed perfectly, with roaring crowd approval after each song. Great stuff from the Tasmanians.

I was up the front for 'Astriaal' who are one of the few Australian Black Metal bands who can actually play their instruments and keep their tune. They sounded as good as when i first saw them back at Bloodlust 2003, and played mostly the same set, highlights of the Renaissant Misanthropy album that hardly leaves my stereo. They had one stuff up at a drum break but recovered well and were otherwise flawless. My favourite of the day.

For 'Frankenbok' i was at the bar chatting up Venessa from Torquay, who later revealed she had a boyfriend (damn it), and ignored their set, mostly.

'Blood Duster' were their usual funny and arrogant death/grind-y selves. Not as good a performance as BDO last year, but worth seeing, even for their Bryan Adams cover (!!!!).

'Daysend' as usual have their crowd following and play well, but anyone like me who has seen then a dozen times just isnt excited any more. Highlight of the set was 'Ignorance of Bliss' that even motivated Walwood to leave the bar for that song (ask Gareth for an explanation of just who Walwood is). I did get into the mosh when they covered Anthrax's 'Only' which went down well.

Last up, the mighty 'Alchemist'. Taking to the stage with a roar from the crowd they rolled into their set with their usual happy faces and musical mastery. I have thought for a long time they are the most unique metal band in the country, further evident from their songs played, including old favourites Yoni Kunda, Chinese Whispers, and Road to Ubar. A few newer songs that are more vocals based rather than hugely instrumental were politely received but everyone wanted the special songs alchemist are loved for,so when Spiritechnology, then Garden of Eroticism began the mosh-circle took of in that rather spastic way of dancing that people do in a circle. Finishing with the mighty 'War of the Worlds' the crowd was left chanting and screaming but there was no return. Metal For the Brain was over for another year.

A great day.

Honour roll (i.e. usual scene characters spotted in crowd):

AC/DC man, Lord Tim,Dave Slave, Wal-Wood, Glen Benton lookalike, and metal promoter Brian Giffin, who was in the Alchemist mosh wearing a sheepskin lined denim jacket. Crazy!

Appologies this email went so long. Congratulations for reading this far. Stuff you for not being there. Make sure you go next year!

Michael

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